Sunday, December 31, 2006

Happy New Year everybody! 明けましておめでとうございます to my friends in Japan where it's already 2007! Pretty soon it'll be 2007 here too and I'm stunned and amazed. I never thought we'd make it this far — we being the human race, of course. 20 years ago I'd have predicted the end of civilization way before this. I was certain all that would be left of what once was mankind would be smouldering radiation poisoned craters. But we made it. Yay for us! There are certainly a lot of very real, very urgent problems that we absolutely must deal with right this very second. But the fact that we are no longer worried the whole world is gonna go ka-boom at any minute makes me really optimistic. As big as the problems we are facing now are they're really small compared to the immediate threat of WWIII breaking out before the next commercial break.

And speaking of terrible problems facing the human race, as some of you have figured out already, I am now writing a weekly column for the Suicide Girls website. If you want to take a look there are links over there to your right. I'll try to keep the one that says "latest article" update each week. But I'm pretty incompetent. Even if I forget, the other link below that will get you to all the articles. So far only one person has really got his knickers in a twist over this, demanding that I explain myself. This brings up another point, if you write me, I might use your letter in an article here or on Suicide Girls. If your e-mail is long and I use it, I will edit it. If you don't want me to do use your e-mail that way, say so and I will not. I won't identify you by name in any case, so you can always deny it was you. I'm pleased it hasn't become such an issue for most people. But maybe it will when word starts spreading (heh, heh, I said "spreading"). Anyway, they asked me to write for them, I accepted and I'm happy with that. I think it's a great forum to talk about Buddhist philosophy. In fact, I could hardly have asked for a better place.

And speaking of better places, Saddam Hussein has almost surely not gone to one. Poor Saddam. Not that he was a nice guy or anything. But I see him in those old video clips patting kids on the head and smiling and I can't help but feel a little sorry for the guy, even though I know he doesn't really deserve it. Even having said that, I'm a little distressed to see the glee everyone is getting at watching his execution over and over and over on YouTube and Google Video. No matter what the reason, the violent death of a fellow human being shouldn't be drooled over that way.

And speaking of drooling, I can't make any transition to the next topic using a metaphor about drooling. But yesterday I deleted a spam comment from this blog. I do this pretty regularly with spammers and don't think too much of it. I do not delete anything else, by the way. This particular piece of spam was a bit different, though, in that it came from a rabid follower of some self-styled Zen Master who wanted to let us know none of us would ever be as Enlightened as his teacher. I saw it, determined it was spam and zapped it pretty fast. But later on I thought I should have left it there to bask in its own idiocy. Unfortunately, once you delete a comment it's gone forever so it's too late for that. C'est la guerre I guess.

I did go over to the site in question and took a look. Pretty typical stuff if you ask me. Sounds like what happens when someone has the kind of initial big wow experiences you often get when starting off in Zen. There's a real danger of going off the deep end and declaring yourself an Enlightened Being after one of these. It's always sad to see that happen. But it does. A warning to us all.

Well, I never thought Clinton should be impeached, but if he came from a small country he could have been, perhaps should have been charged with war crimes for bombing civilians in Serbia. If Saddam or Osama or Milosovic were in charge of the US, Slick Willy could have been convicted. Certainly GWB has killed more Iraqs than Saddam Hussein at this point done way more damage to that pathetic country.

ps You are right the early 80's were really bad and scary. I have never been depressed. Lars Fredricksen from Rancid was talking about the fact that we, the Punks, won at least in New York and SF on his Radio show. Which is true it is pretty much better and safer to be a devient human now at least in parts of the USA. Never ever thought anyone would have a Punk Hardcore radio show. Mind you it is way worse to be a turtle or a tree in the rain forest now.

pps. The Sucide girls are great, I like that there are pinups that aren't plastic cheerleader types it will utimately improve the taste of the guys who are into them, aways a good thing.

I don't know if Linda Clair is enlightened. But her web design person certainly knows their job. That's one thing I'll give to these self appointed spiritual teachers. They do a good job on their web design.

Oh, and Happy New Year to everyone. I hope this sorry old world makes one more trip around the sun without us blowing ourselves up.

One small nit to pick after reading your column in Suicide Girls. Buddha never said "life is suffering." You can read what he said in his first sermon here. If you think about it, if life were suffering, the only way to avoid suffering would be to kill yourself. What Buddha said is that craving is the cause of suffering and we can avoid suffering by ending it.

I'm not at all sure how Linda Clair came to be discussed on this blog. I am her student, and i know all her other students. I find it highly unlikely that any of them would have claimed that she is more enlightened than anyone else. She is not a Zen Master. Part of her training was in Zen, but she is outside any tradition. She is most definitely enlightened. The best way to discover if a teacher is genuinely enlightened is to go and see them.

"Pretty typical stuff if you ask me. Sounds like what happens when someone has the kind of initial big wow experiences you often get when starting off in Zen. There's a real danger of going off the deep end and declaring yourself an Enlightened Being after one of these. It's always sad to see that happen. But it does. A warning to us all."

Somebody makes the claim that they ARE Enlightened, and you say something like that. What do you base your assumption on Brad? How do YOU know that Linda Clair is NOT Enlightened?

From reading her site it appears she has the support of two Zen Masters from Japan and she has recieved her Buddhist name (not one but two!).

Anonymous said, "From reading her site it appears she has the support of two Zen Masters from Japan and she has recieved her Buddhist name (not one but two!)."

From the "Teacher" page on Linda Clair's site:

"In 2004 she travelled to Japan and spent six weeks at a Zen monastery with Hogen-san’s Master, Harada Tangen Roshi, known as Roshi Sama. Her time with him was intense. She sensed she was close to the culmination of her journey. She returned to Australia in a deeply detached, peaceful state. Roshi Sama gave her the name Dai’an Jishin, which translates as ‘deep peace, compassionate heart/mind’."

As someone who has practiced at Bukkokuji with Tangen Roshi (the teacher who gave Linda Clair her Buddhist name), all it probably means is that she took jukai (recieving the precepts) with him, and is not any indicator of spiritual attainment or support of her teaching activities. Tangen Roshi gave jukai to anyone who asked. I attended a jukai ceremony there in which he gave jukai to the 2 or 3 year old son of one of his western disciples. During jukai, you are given two names, a first and last so to speak. I am sure that her six weeks at Bukkokuji were "intense," because Bukkokuji is an intense place and Tangen Roshi is an intense teacher. I think she's just name dropping to give herself more credibility in the Zen scene.

Every now and then someone listening to one of my teacher's talks gets up and asks a question based on what they heard from some silly New Age teacher. They finish up by asking, is that the same as what you're talking about? I expect him to lower the KABOOM, but he never does. What he says instead is "I don't know" or "I can't tell." So I try to follow his example and not criticize other spiritual teachers, no matter how they sound to me.

I expect that except for a few pathological cases, every teacher has something to say of benefit to someone. You don't need to be enlightened to teach meditation or the importance of love and compassion and if people took these seriously and put them into practice they'd be much better off.

Anyway, your teacher's enlightenment helps you, how? Plenty of people hunt out the teacher with the greatest reputation for enlightenment, then ignore everything their teacher has to say.

There is a box here called 'Buddhism'. Everything inside the box is worthy of serious discussion. Anything outside the box must be dismissed or denigrated in some way. This makes those in the box feel more secure. I hope this helps

"There is a box here called 'Buddhism'. Everything inside the box is worthy of serious discussion. Anything outside the box must be dismissed or denigrated in some way. This makes those in the box feel more secure. I hope this helps"

All well and good.

It still looks as though Mrs Clair is using her very limited Japanese experience and her jukai to push her "enlightenment" and sell her wares though.

Happy New Year from Denver CO USA baby!Wow, ive blocked out so much of what I refuse to put my energy into i didnt realize some people were still putting their energy into the War, death and destruction that plagued the old way of humanity. Fortunately, I couldnt agree with you more that the New and Shiny fantastic way of living is comin 'round the bend. We are not threatened and we can evolve freely.And Peacefully. And Willfully and Soulfully.Ah well, I have high hopes and dreams.Thank you for SPREADING those amazing words.Peace to all.

If you read the text on Linda's website, you will see that her experience in Japan is a very small part of her journey. She had an awakening in 1997. She continued to practice Vipassana for another seven years before the trip to Japan. She did not become enlightened in Japan, but in Australia at a sesshin with Zen Master Hogen Yamahata. I say this just in case anyone is interested in looking at a broader perspective.

Brad, and all, Just been reading the Suicide Girls' articles, but had no idea how to post a response, so I'm doing it here..You mentioned 'the law of the Universe', and have done so on a number of other occasions. But I have no idea what you are referring to here. Can you shed a little light on what you mean? Isn't something like 'the law of the Universe' just another thought in your head, and therefore unworthy of mentioning/ thinking about? I'd really appreciate your comments. This is a sticking point for me..D

i totally support the advice given earlier on this blog by Mikedoe. The best attitude to take is somewhere between, on one extreme, gullibility, and on the other extreme, some of the tight-assed, fundamentalist views expressed on this blog regarding Linda Clair. Healthy skepicism is great; there should be more of it. But skepticism can easily shut you down if you're not careful. My understanding is that a Zen Master would never sanction a non-Buddhist as a teacher. But enlightenment does not have rules.

"People who start in Zen sometimes set themselves up as independent teachers. Toni Packer and Adyashanti are the first names that come to my mind."

A great many Tokugawa Zen priests were self-enlightened and self-certified. Daigu, Tosui, Shosan, Ungo, and Isshi were all such Zen priests, having been fed up with the "paper zen" of the times.

It was possible (dare I say it may still be?) during the Meiji era to buy certification as a Zen priest.

"Paper Zen" is still rife today with many placing importance on who certified who and such nonsense.

In the words of Dokuan Genko (1630-1698) "The only genuine transmission is the individual's independent experience of Zen enlightenment, an intuitive experience that needs no external confirmation. what is called enlightenment is not dependent on another's enlightenment. It can only be realised for one's self, by one's self."

So who is ANYBODY to say whether or not another person has attained enlightenment or not?

anonymous said:If you read the text on Linda's website, you will see that her experience in Japan is a very small part of her journey. She had an awakening in 1997.

I had one in 1995, and I'm still a big asshole, and nobody would ever mistake me for a buddhist teacher.

From Linda Clair's bio on her web site: She later described the experience as ‘deeper than bliss’. There was a marked change in her after the awakening, which was really a very strong glimpse of enlightenment. She knew now what was possible, and she also knew that she would not be satisfied until that state became permanent.

Heroin users also see marked changes, neglecting their lives in pursuit of a "deeper than bliss" state. Don't neglect your life in pursuit of either of those dragons. I hope she's not encouraging other people to "not be satisfied until that state becomes permanent." Awful.

anonymous again:So who is ANYBODY to say whether or not another person has attained enlightenment or not?

Better questions: Why does it matter whether any given person has attained "enlightenment" (whatever that means)? Are they joyful and happy with their lives? Are they good teachers, experienced and skilled in helping people understand the practice, each other, themselves, and their problems?

I don't know whether Linda Clair would fit that description. I'm a little skeptical that she's a good teacher after reading some of her web site. Even if she really is living the Dharma, that doesn't necessarily make her a good teacher.

"I don't know whether Linda Clair would fit that description. I'm a little skeptical that she's a good teacher after reading some of her web site. Even if she really is living the Dharma, that doesn't necessarily make her a good teacher."

Likewise, after reading through her website I was left with the impression that she is a shonk, someone out to make a buck from people.

Just the impression that I got from reading her stuff, and from her apparent lack of wisdom. The way she is presented is like one of those new-age magic crystal types.

Like those armchair martial artists who take pictures with great teachers, and put together their own hodge-podge school from attending a few seminars - she seems to be in the same vein. I doubt anything of value comes from attending her classes. Just stroking her ego.

"People who start in Zen sometimes set themselves up as independent teachers. Toni Packer and Adyashanti are the first names that come to my mind"

While Toni Packer did leave traditional Zen and form her own group, she didn't set herself up in the sense of being a 'self-proclaimed' teacher. She was given permission to teach by Roshi Kapleau and had already taken on many students while still at the RZC. Roshi was planning to turn the principle teaching duties of the Rochester Zen center over to her when she realized she did not want to carry on within the traditional Zen Buddhist religious tradition. When she left, many of her students chose to leave with her (including myself) and begin what is now called the Springwater Center.

Someone else also wrote that a zen master's sanction of enlightenment (kensho) is identical to being given permission to teach. This isn't true of any of the rinzai or sanbo kyodan sects that I'm aware of. A student must go far beyond the initial kensho or passing of the first koan and this usually requires many more years, if not decades, of training under the teacher.

Someone else also wrote that a zen master's sanction of enlightenment (kensho) is identical to being given permission to teach. This isn't true of any of the rinzai or sanbo kyodan sects that I'm aware of. A student must go far beyond the initial kensho or passing of the first koan and this usually requires many more years, if not decades, of training under the teacher.

This is my experience also. Some times it's said that kensho means that person can start serious practice with the teacher. It's the first step, nothing else. Shodo Harada Roshi wrote that when he had his first kensho, he went to his room and made little dance and returned to normal monestary duty. Then he said that it took 10 years diligent practice with his teacher to get rid of the stink of the kensho.

the criticism of a teacher by a teacher is because teaching includes criticizing one-sided views

if a teacher presents enlightenment as something that is definitely real and useful, then a Buddhist teacher might criticize that as one-sided and misleading

when it comes to "objectification of women" or "exhibitionist sluts", I don't know if the women posting their pictures are victims or criminals - but my common sense says they are basically having fun posting those pictures and other women and men are having fun looking at them - i guess normally people need some pastime in life, be it football, rock n roll or erotica

i guess porn becomes dangerous only when it inspires people to do something mad but mostly it is the other way around - usually they can releast the sexual tension thanks to pictures / and the crazier a person is, the crazier, sicker has to be the porn they watch to make them cool down, thank God that can save a lot of innocent people from being attacked or raped

when it comes to "objectification of women" or "exhibitionist sluts", I don't know if the women posting their pictures are victims or criminals - but my common sense says they are basically having fun posting those pictures and other women and men are having fun looking at them - i guess normally people need some pastime in life, be it football, rock n roll or erotica

Slut was not meant as insult. It is quite common sexual fantasy for women (and many men) to be slut, slave or other vice cheap and objectified by others. There is noting criminal in this. IT SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH REAL ABUSE. It is just human nature. Some people watch movies with violence, some people like non-equal sex fantasies for example. Human nature is extremely complex thing. I had girlfriend that wanted to be used and lightly abused. I have always been non violent and gentle person, but I was turned on by this. I also liked to watch ultra violent Japanese movies. When I become Buddhist, I saw that I can choose to ignore my natural inclinations for abusive plays and violence fantasies. Even if they don't hurt others they fill my mind with the imaginary pleasure of hurting and abusing others. This fun was like anti metta bahavana practise.

Always remember:

Whatever a Person Thinks and Ponders on, That is the Inclination of Their Mind! - The Buddha - MN 19-[11] Two Kinds of Thought Dvedhavitakka Sutta

I suppose at its most basic the question becomes one of how the site meshes with the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct. As the poster before touched upon, this includes ones fantasy life. The precepts at their most subtle levels include both the internal and the external.

This anonymous thing is for the birds...I gotta register if I'm going to keep posting here.

It is not (just) a blog. For small amount of money you can watch erotic pictures and videos. It is Playboy for Punks :) Sex business is sex business.

Note: I have nothing against the fact that Brad writes articles in the magazine. Money he gets comes from guys who jerk off while looking pictures and videos of naked tattooed girls doing kinky things. Is that right livehood is beound me :)

If Brad went on the write a weekly column for High Times or the Ku Klux Klan online, there would be no problem per se. But if in the column, he advocated getting high and lynching negros, then he would have crossed a line.

From what I can see on SG some women are paid to post pictures of themselves and others (women and men) pay $48 per year to look at these pictures. Since all people involved are over 18 I struggle to find an issue.

Sure, it's not something I'd choose to do (pose or pay) but clearly others wish to do one or both.

From what I can see on SG some women are paid to post pictures of themselves and others (women and men) pay $48 per year to look at these pictures. Since all people involved are over 18 I struggle to find an issue.Yes. This is sex business. All leagal. No issues.

Is Buddhism only for the 'right' kind of people?No. But it is about right kind of action. Btw. I think it is great that Brad is writing in suicidegirls. Jesus Christ would write too. Neither of them would put their naked pictures on sale.

I think it is great that Brad is writing in suicidegirls. Jesus Christ would write too. Neither of them would put their naked pictures on sale.

Yeah, but Jesus had that bread trick. The rest of us have to earn money in order to eat. Anyway, to me, SG is more about "alternative" women redefining beauty away from the Barbie standard you see in other American media. The vast majority of the pics are artistic nudes, not really porn in my book. I don't believe the models are paid anyway, though I could be wrong. I think it's great that they're proud of their bodies and want to show themselves off. That's why I got a membership a few months ago. I'm supporting the arts. Yeah. Art. That's the ticket. :-)

Heh. I bet you don't pay $48 for a year for the ability to watch to pictures of flower arrangements many times a week (many times a day maybe?). Be honest, it's the aestheticles between your legs that run your mind in this case.

We live in so oversexed environment that we have no idea how fucked we are. I remember once coming from my two month visit in monastery and seeing first ad with girl in bikini at the airport. First time I understood how Muslims must feel when they visit west first time. Totally outrageous manipulation of my mind. Like mental rape or something. First I was angry, then sad. It is sad how well it works and how powerless I am when marketing uses my human nature against my will.

I want to go home, make sex with my girlfriend an then we lay there hugging her. That is beautiful. It is sickness of our mind when we spend our time having sex fantasies when there is no one to have sex with. It's primal urge and natural addiction we have. We should not deny it, but if we take it as entertainment it's just perversion IMHO.

Hey guys, stop being more femistist than thou. Stop deciding for the girls involved what is explotation and objectification. That is pretty patronizing. Let them decide for themselves what they want to show and do.

If I had copies of the photo's my ex boy friend took of me, I'd post them. But I don't. I hope He does and still looks at them too. Those girls are great. They are expanding the definition of what is attractive to men. Which is a very good thing from the punk female point of view.

Please understand, some people just do not have the chance to have an equal, loving relationship with another human and they are lonely.

"Buddha said...Supporting the Objectification of women, how zen of you."

Those of us in the BME scene actively objectify ourselves. We choose to adorn our body with ink and/or metal. The SuicideGirls are not expoliting or exploited, and neither are the readers of the website.

"They are expanding the definition of what is attractive to men"This though is not true as far as men are concerned.

A man will tend to find any woman attractive who believes that she is. Internal beauty (or ugliness) will always shine through.

There is also (according to the help) a 'Suicide Boys' section as well and SB allows any man to upload and display a picture.

Overall the site feels to me like it is about self-expression and acknowledging uniqueness rather than 'porn'. It does not feel like it is about making money or exploitation. It has the feeling of a site that exists for the SGs rather than for the punters.

Their own help describes it as 'myspace for adults'. The photos are only a small part of this.

As a current member of the SG site, I'd like to say that people I have become acquainted with on the site tend to be more open-minded than your average 'spiritual seeker'. Many are also way more well-read, too.

Secondly, I became enlightened when I was born. I'm pretty sure it's still here somewhere, I've just mis-placed it amongst all the other stuff that I've picked up ionce then.

Hmm, that's actually a completely different article. For some reason the link showed up on the browser of the computer I was using to post, and not this one. I'm going home in a few, maybe I'll try again later.

"How's that. I find him very intresting. Being that you manifest the energy that comes to you, maybe ask why that energy "creeps you out". What fear is there."

I don't know much about him, or about manifesting energy or anything like that. I've read one of his books and it did absoulutely nothing for me. He seemed to imply that we could all "awaken" if we just listened to him intently enough or that we could think ourselves awake. That isn't the part that creeps me out, I think that part is just dumb. I am seriously creeped out by the way that he talks and by his speaking persona. It looks to me like he's studied alot of Osho and Adi Da (or Free Bubba whatever he is calling himself) tapes because he has that self proclaimed enlightened master bit down pat, it's creepy.

My dad gave me a bit of advice that still rings true for me. He said that the best meditation teachers that he had ever met were the most normal of people...sometimes even a little awkward, and not to waste my time with people that were too charismatic or seemed like they were trying to hard.

Buddha said..."Supporting the Objectification of women with a clear conscious, how 'zen' of you."

Anonymous Imbecile said…“Those of us in the BME scene actively objectify ourselves. We choose to adorn our body with ink and/or metal. The SuicideGirls are not exploiting or exploited, and neither are the readers of the website.”

Hey, while searching for widgets for my blog, I stumbled upon www.widgetmate.com and wow! I found what I wanted. A cool news widget. My blog is now showing latest news with title, description and images. Took just few minutes to add. Awesome!